Chronic Strain, Coping Style, and Mental Health in Emerging Adulthood: Considering Age-Linked Patterns in the Stress Process

Using longitudinal data from two cohorts of emerging adults (mean ages 17.5 and 21.7), we examined whether chronic strain exposure mediated age-cohort effects, and/or yielded age-cohort-moderated effects, on psychological distress; whether problem-, emotion-, and/or avoidance-oriented coping styles mediated and/or moderated chronic strain effects on distress; and whether those coping styles yielded age-cohort-moderated effects on distress net of chronic strain. Compared to the younger cohort respondents, the older cohort respondents reported lower chronic strain exposure, more frequent problem- and emotion-oriented coping, and less frequent avoidance-oriented coping. Cohort variations in psychological distress were mediated by chronic strain exposure. Across cohorts, psychological distress was associated with more frequent avoidance-oriented coping, which explained a modest portion of the positive relation between chronic strain and distress. Problem-oriented coping style was associated with lower distress only among the older cohort respondents. Sociological stress-process and life-course perspectives frame our discussion and directions for future research and practice.